Goal post retention device

ABSTRACT

A goal post retention device, comprising a body having a first member and a second member, wherein the first and second members are integral with one another, the first member comprising a first semi-open cylinder having a top planar annular surface, the cylinder having a first outer diameter, the second member arranged beneath and concentric with the first member, the second member comprising a semi-open cylinder having a second outer diameter which is larger than the first outer diameter, the semi-open cylinder having a bottom rim and a frustoconical inner surface extending upwardly from the bottom rim, the semi-open cylinder having a top annular surface. In one embodiment, a pike extends downwardly within the second member, extending slightly below the bottom rim.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the game of ice hockey, moreparticularly to the goal post and net in the game of hockey, and, evenmore particularly, to a goal post retention device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usuallyin an ice rink, in which two teams of skaters skate with hockey sticksand attempt to shoot a game piece, called a puck, past a goaltender intothe opposing team's net to score a goal. A hockey team usually consistsof four lines of three forwards, three pairs of defensemen, and twogoaltenders. Normally, except in penalty situations, each team has fiveskaters on the ice in addition to one goaltender during play.

Hockey rinks in most of the world follow the International Ice HockeyFederation (IIHF) specifications and, in North America, most rinksfollow the National Hockey League (NHL) specifications of 200 feet by 85feet with a corner radius of 28 feet. The distance from the end boardsto the nearest goal line is 11 feet with blue lines 64 feet from thegoal line and 50 feet apart. At each end of the ice, there is a goalconsisting of a metal post frame and cloth net in which each team mustplace the puck to score a goal. According to both IIHF and NHL rules,the entire puck must cross the entire goal line in order to be countedas a goal. Under NHL rules, the opening of the goal is 72 inches wide by48 inches tall, and the footprint of the goal is 44 inches deep. Theframe of the goal post is usually secured to the ice at two locations,where the goal posts attach to pegs that penetrate the ice. Thesepost/peg assemblies are designed to “give way” during collisions of apredetermined magnitude and force to prevent injury during a game.Unfortunately, this breakaway force point is too low for effectivegoalie training, as described below.

Obviously, the goalie is a very important member of a hockey team, sinceit is his responsibility to guard his team's net and prevent theopposing team from scoring. This is a specialized position and requiresgreat skill, ability and training to perform properly. Goalies typicallytrain, at all levels, by performing a variety of drills. For example,the website http://www.usahockeygoaltending.com/ lists a number ofdrills for hockey goalies, categorized as movement drills, fundamentalsave drills, team drills, game situation drills and off-ice drills. Someof the on-ice drills identified on this website are commonly known as“post lean”, “jam”, “wrap around”, “middle out butterfly slide”, “threepuck movement butterfly slide”, “out, over and back”, “out, over, fullrecovery and back”, “out, over and butterfly slide back”, “out, on icerecovery and back”, “zone work with butterfly slide”, “post to postbutterfly slide”, “three puck movement on ice recovery”, “master top ofcrease”, “lateral movement and read”, “gloves and tracking”, “zone workwith chest shot”, “triggered cross body glove saves”, “butterfly andfull recovery”, “butterfly and on ice recovery”, “Ayers on-icerecovery”, “middle out 2 puck”, etc. These are only a few representativedrills. Many other drills are known and practiced by hockey goalies andtaught by their coaches, and these many drills are known by manydifferent names.

During many of the goalie drills described above the goalie comes intoforceful contact with the aforementioned goal posts. If the posts aremounted as they would be during a normal game, they break away from theice often, disrupting the training routine. In view of the large varietyof drills and dynamics of play, the forces exerted upon the goal postsduring training vary both in magnitude and direction from drill to drilland from player to player. During a live game these forces could causeinjury to the goalie, which is why the posts are designed to break awayeasily, but during training exercises, this easy break away disrupts thetraining routine.

As early as 1976, the problems associated with fixed and releasablehockey goal nets have been known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,120 (Dietrich)recognized that the use of a fixed goal net causes severe injuries whencontacted by players at high velocity. As early as 1988, the problems ofunsecured hockey goal nets was recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,306(Shewchuk). In this patent the inventor addresses the problem to besolved as: “[M]any sports which use a goal structure of this type andparticularly ice hockey, are high velocity, high energy games in whichcollisions and impacts are an important part of the game and henceunavoidable. Collisions with other players do not generally causeserious injury since the player is fairly flexible and therefore in thecollision both players tend to deform to some extend thus avoiding thesort of injury that occurs in contact with a rigid object. Collisionswith the boards surrounding the playing surface can be more damagingsince these are rigid, but they have no projections and thus seriousinjuries are uncommon. However, the goal posts and goal structure aregenerally rigid and include projections or narrow structures which cancause serious injury. This is overcome in hockey played by youngerchildren by merely placing the rigid goal frame and net loosely on theplaying surface so that whenever it is contacted by a player it simplymoves away from the original location and no damage is caused. However,this becomes unsatisfactory as the players become older and more skilledsince the net can be very easily move[d] away from its location evenwhen not impacted and thus the game has to come to a halt.”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,497 (Pena) acknowledges the problem of non-securedhockey goal nets easily moving when contacted by players: “[I]n manysporting events, such as hockey . . . a player may collide with the postand could be seriously injured by such a collision. These collisions areprevented by having breakaway posts which will reduce the injury to theplayer. In the past to overcome these injuries, the net has been looselysecured on the playing surface by the posts so that whenever it iscontacted by a player it simply moves away from the original locationand no damage is caused. However, this becomes unsatisfactory as theplayers become older and more skilled, since the net can be very easilymoved away from its location, even when not impacted, and thus, the gamehas to come to a halt.” To solve this problem Pena discloses areleasable anchor for a post at a predetermined location on a playingsurface. The invention includes an upright hollow post, which fits overa frustoconical member fixedly secured to the playing surface via ananchor. The frustoconical shape of the member anchored to the playingsurface allows for a quick-release when forceful contact is made withthe upright hollow post.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,100 (Cortese) discloses a goal post magnetarrangement having a plurality of spaced goal posts mounting a netcoextensively therebetween each include a lower terminal end securableto a respective magnetic mounting arrangement. Cortese further disclosesa cylindrical base having an annular groove to receive the lowerterminal end of each goal post with an upwardly extending cylindricalboss directed interiorly of each goal post including a conical uppersurface to enhance ease of displacement of an associated goal postrelative to the boss upon impact with the goal post.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,456 (Meggs) discloses a cylindrical canister to beused within the bottom of a hockey goal post to retain the post in placeagainst a keeper. The invention in this patent utilizes a magneticarrangement within the canister which draws the post downwardly againstthe keeper. The keeper has a frustoconical central portion whichrequires the post to ride up and over it in order to overcome themagnetic force between the canister and the keeper. In the patent, theinventor specifically addresses the use of “stub posts sticking upwardlyout of the ice at the positions of the forward side goal posts, and thegoal posts are hollow with open bottom ends, so that they can fit overthe stub posts. When the ice is to be used for activities other thanhockey games, the goal is removed and the stub posts are removed fromthe ice.”

United States Patent Application Publication No. 20122/0289365 (Boskus)discloses a goal post retention system comprising a playing surface, aferromagnetic goal post and a magnet disposed under the playing surfaceattracting the ferromagnetic goal post thereby preventing theferromagnetic goal post from becoming dislodged without application ofsufficient force. In this patent, the inventor specifically addressesthe use of a “break away” goal post retention system that employs “someform of plug or mounting post which rigidly affixed to the playingsurface and projects some distance below the ice. The goal post(normally hollow) is then installed over the plug or mounting post . . .”

While these prior patented and patent pending inventions purport tosolve some problems associated with fixing hockey goal posts to the ice,they don't solve the problem of affixing the goal posts to the ice insuch a way that increases the force necessary to break away from the icefor training and drills. What is needed, then, is a goal post retentiondevice that provides a greater attachment force to the ice for goalietraining purposes than those devices used during game conditions, andthat is resistant to break away regardless of the angle of the forceapplied thereto.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention broadly comprises a goal post retention device,comprising a body having a first section and a second section, whereinthe first and second sections are integral with one another, the firstsection comprising a first closed cylinder having a top planar surface,the cylinder having a first outer diameter, the second section arrangedbeneath and concentric with the first section, the second sectioncomprising a semi-open cylinder having a second outer diameter which islarger than the first outer diameter, the semi-open cylinder having abottom rim and a frustoconical inner surface extending upwardly from thebottom rim, the semi-open cylinder having a top annular surface.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a goal post retentiondevice for a hockey goal that secures the goal posts to the ice moresecurely than similar devices employed during game conditions, and yetreleasably secures the goal to the ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a goal post retentiondevice for a hockey goal that secures the goal posts to the ice and isresistant to forces applied to the goal post from any direction duringtraining and yet maintains the goal securely to the ice.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become readily present to those having ordinary skill inthe art upon reading the following detailed description of the inventionin view of the drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is depicted in the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a typical goal assembly releasablysecured to the ice using the present invention, and also showing agoalie in position in front of the goal assembly;

FIG. 1B is a top view of the goal assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a view similar to that of FIG. 1A where the goalie isperforming a drill that causes his left leg pad to impart a force to theleft goal post;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the left goal post and left leg pad shownin FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a front top perspective view of the goal post retention deviceof the present invention, shown affixed to the ice;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the goal post retention device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the goal post retention deviceshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, taken generally along line 5A-5A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a view similar to that of FIG. 5A, except showing side post110 in place atop goal post retention device 300;

FIG. 6A is a front bottom perspective view of the goal post retentiondevice shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6B is yet another front top perspective view of the goal postretention device, similar to the view of FIG. 3, except shown withoutthe ice;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the goal post retention device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the goal post retention device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the goal post retention device of the presentinvention; and,

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional front view of the goal post retentiondevice of the present invention, taken generally along line 10-10 inFIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Adverting now to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of atypical goal assembly 100 releasably secured to the ice (not shown)using the present invention, and also showing a goalie 200 in positionin front of the goal assembly. Goalie 200 is seen to be wearing typicalgoalie equipment, including helmet 205, blocker pad 210, glove 240, andleg pad 230, and is holding hockey stick 220. The goalie is guardinggoal assembly 100, which broadly comprises goal post 120, including sidepost 110, net 130 affixed to the goal post and net skirting 140. As iswell known, the goalie's job is to protect the goal and prevent theopposing team from shooting a puck into the net. This highly specializedposition requires extensive training. As described previously, goaliestypically train by practicing a wide variety of drills. But hockey is acontact sport, especially during live games. The forces exerted by thegoalie and other players alike, in proximity to the goal, could causeconsiderable injury should the goal post be fixedly secured to the ice.Thus, goal post assemblies are releasably secured to the ice using avariety of pegs. These pegs are specially designed to withstand thenormal forces associated with play, but “break away” the goal post whenexcessive force is exerted to prevent injury. Unfortunately, the forcesexerted by the goalie during training exercises often exceeds thoseforces exerted during normal play, causing the goal assembly to becomedislodged from the ice and disrupting the training exercises.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the goal post assembly and goalie shown in FIG.1, illustrating the goalie during a training exercise, where he isexerting both a lateral force FL and a rearward force FR on left sidepost 110. The object of the present invention is to secure the goal postand goal assembly to the ice during these routine drills. The goalie haspivoted a full 90 degrees from his starting position in FIG. 2A and isexerting a force on side post 110 with his left leg pad 230, as shownmore clearly in FIG. 2B. Of course, the goalie also exerts similarforces on the right goal post as well during training.

A preferred embodiment of the goal post retention device of the presentinvention is illustrated in front top perspective view in FIG. 3. Inthis view, device 300 is shown secured to ice 303. The device is shownto comprise two members which, in a preferred embodiment, are integralwith one another. First member 302 mounts in the ice. Emanating upwardlyfrom first member 302 is second member 301. Second member 301 includesouter cylindrical surface 304, inner cylindrical surface 305, topannular surface 314, and aperture 306. The inner diameter of firstmember 301 is sized to be slightly larger than the outer diameter ofside post 110, in order to hold the post within the counter-bore 306 ofthe member.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5A is across-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 3, taken generallyalong line 5A-5A in FIG. 4. This view shows counter-bore 306 in member301 as described above. Also shown is inner frustoconical surface 309 atthe bottom of member 301, forming the counter-bore. Member 301 is shownto be generally cylindrical in shape, having an outer cylindricalsurface 304 and an inner cylindrical surface 305. Second member 302,which, in a preferred embodiment, is integral with first member 301, isseen to include upper annular surface 310, lower annular surface 316,rim section 307 which includes outer cylindrical surface 311 and innerfrustoconical surface 312. Center spike 308 is seen to be extendingdownwardly from lower annular surface 316. In a preferred embodiment,the spike is concentric with respect to both the first and secondmembers. Also, in a preferred embodiment, first member 301 is hollow,having a counter-bore therein, but it should be apparent to those havingordinary skill in the art that member 301 could be a solid cylinder aswell. Also in a preferred embodiment, the surface of ice 303 is locatedabout ⅛″ above top surface 310 of second member 302. This may beaccomplished by squirting water where the side of the device meets thesurface of the ice to cause ice to build up about the top of the secondmember. FIG. 5B is a view similar to that of FIG. 5A, except showingside post 110 in place atop goal post retention device 300. In this viewit is seen that the inner diameter of side post 110 is larger than theouter diameter of first member 301, such that the post telescopinglyengages the member.

FIG. 6A illustrates the retention device of the present invention infront lower perspective view. This view clearly shows concentric spike308 extending downwardly from annular surface 316 of second member 302,and also show frustoconical inner surface 312 of rim 307. FIG. 6B is aview similar to that of FIG. 6A, except showing the device in frontupper view. This view clearly shows aperture 306 of first member 301,arranged to hold side post 110 of the goal post.

FIG. 7 is a front view of device 300. This view is intended to show thatpoint 317 of spike 308 extends a distance “d” below rim 315. In apreferred embodiment this distance is approximately 0.040″ but otherdistances would also be functional, although the inventor finds that thedevice (peg) works best if the spike extends below the lower rim. FIG. 8is a top view of device 300 and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of device 300.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional front view of device 300, taken generallyalong line 10-10 in FIG. 9. Although the claims of the present patentare not intended to be limited to a device having specific dimensions,approximate representative dimensions of a preferred embodiment of thedevice are provided here to enable a person having ordinary skill in theart to make and use the invention. These dimensions are representativeonly and may be varied by those having ordinary skill in the art. It ispreferred however, and claimed, that d₁<d₂. In a preferred embodiment d₁is approximately 38 mm, d₂ is approximately 64 mm, d₃ is approximately47 mm, d₅ is approximately 14 mm, and d₄ is approximately 61 mm anddistance d is approximately 0.040″ as described previously. Also, in apreferred embodiment, angle α is approximately 18 degrees, angle β isapproximately 30 degrees, and angle Δ is approximately 108 degrees.Again, these specific angles are representative only, and other anglesare possible without adversely affecting function. It is important,however that surfaces 312 and 313 slope away from each other. Forexample, as best seen in FIG. 5A, surface 312 slopes downwardly andoutwardly, whereas surface 313 slopes downwardly and inwardly.

Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention areefficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to theinvention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill inthe art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that theforegoing description is illustrative of the present invention andshould not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments ofthe present invention are possible without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as claimed.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   100 goal assembly-   110 side post-   120 goal post-   130 net-   140 net skirting-   200 goalie-   205 helmet-   210 blocker pad-   220 hockey stick-   230 leg pad-   240 glove-   300 goal post retention device-   301 first member-   302 second member-   303 ice-   304 outer cylindrical surface-   305 inner cylindrical surface-   306 counter-bore-   307 rim section of second member-   308 center spike-   309 inner frustoconical surface of first member-   310 top annular surface of second member-   311 outer cylindrical surface of second member-   312 frustoconical inner surface of rim-   313 center spike frustoconical surface-   314 top annular surface-   315 bottom rim-   316 bottom annular surface of second member-   317 point of spike

What is claimed is:
 1. A goal post retention device, comprising: a bodyhaving a first member and a second member, wherein said first and secondmembers are integral with one another; said first member comprising afirst semi-open cylinder having a top planar annular surface, saidcylinder having a first outer diameter, said first member having acounter-bore that opens upwardly; said second member arranged beneathand concentric with said first member, said second member comprising asemi-open cylinder having a second outer diameter which is larger thansaid first outer diameter of said first member, said semi-open cylinderhaving a bottom rim and a frustoconical inner surface extending upwardlyfrom said bottom rim, said semi-open cylinder having a top planarannular surface, said second member having a counter-bore that opensdownwardly.
 2. The goal post retention device recited in claim 1,wherein said semi-open cylinder comprises an inner upper annularsurface.
 3. The goal post retention device recited in claim 2, whereinsaid semi-open cylinder further comprises a conically shaped spikeextending downwardly to a point from said inner upper annular surface.4. The goal post retention device recited in claim 3, wherein saidconically shaped pike extends downwardly a first distance from saidinner upper annular surface and, said bottom rim extends downwardly asecond distance from said inner upper annular surface, wherein saidfirst distance is greater than said second distance.
 5. The goal postretention device recited in claim 3, wherein said conically shaped pikeextends downwardly a first distance from said inner upper annularsurface and said bottom rim extends downwardly a second distance fromsaid inner upper circular surface, wherein said first distance is lessthan said second distance.
 6. A goal post retention device, comprising:a body comprising a semi-open cylinder having a bottom rim and afrustoconical inner surface extending upwardly from said bottom rim,said semi-open cylinder having a top annular surface.
 7. The goal postretention device recited in claim 6, wherein said semi-open cylindercomprises an inner upper annular surface.
 8. The goal post retentiondevice recited in claim 7, wherein said semi-open cylinder furthercomprises a conically shaped spike extending downwardly to a point fromsaid inner upper annular surface.
 9. The goal post retention devicerecited in claim 8, wherein said conically shaped spike extendsdownwardly a first distance from said inner upper annular surface andsaid bottom rim extends downwardly a second distance from said innerupper annular surface, wherein said first distance is greater than saidsecond distance.
 10. The goal post retention device recited in claim 8,wherein said conically shaped spike extends downwardly a first distancefrom said inner upper annular surface and said bottom rim extendsdownwardly a second distance from said inner upper annular surface,wherein said first distance is less than said second distance.
 11. Agoal post retention device, comprising: a body having a first member anda second member, wherein said first and second members are integral withone another; said first member comprising a cylinder having a top planarsurface, said cylinder having a first outer diameter; said second memberarranged beneath and concentric with said first member, said secondmember comprising a semi-open cylinder having a second outer diameterwhich is larger than said first outer diameter of said first member,said semi-open cylinder having a bottom rim and a frustoconical innersurface extending upwardly from said bottom rim, said semi-open cylinderhaving a top planar annular surface, said second member having acounter-bore that opens downwardly.
 12. The goal post retention devicerecited in claim 11, wherein said semi-open cylinder of said secondmember comprises an inner upper annular surface.
 13. The goal postretention device recited in claim 12, wherein said semi-open cylinder ofsaid second member further comprises a conically shaped spike extendingdownwardly to a point from said inner upper annular surface.
 14. Thegoal post retention device recited in claim 13, wherein said conicallyshaped pike extends downwardly a first distance from said inner upperannular surface and, said bottom rim extends downwardly a seconddistance from said inner upper annular surface, wherein said firstdistance is greater than said second distance.
 15. The goal postretention device recited in claim 13, wherein said conically shaped pikeextends downwardly a first distance from said inner upper annularsurface and said bottom rim extends downwardly a second distance fromsaid inner upper circular surface, wherein said first distance is lessthan said second distance.